The USL Cup Playoffs are down to the final four.
The home teams won in all four of the league's dramatic conference semifinal matches over the weekend, setting up conference championship matchups in which three of the four remaining teams hail from MLS clubs.
In the East, New York Red Bulls II knocked off the defending USL champions Rochester Rhinos in a 5-4 penalty-kick shootout after 120 minutes of end-to-end action. Rochester had held a late lead in extra time, only for Red Bulls Homegrown striker Brandon Allen to score the equalizer in the 119th minute to dig out a dramatic 3-3 draw and send the game to PKs.
Konrad Plewa slams home his penalty kick and sends Red Bulls II to the @USL Eastern Conference Finals!#NYvROC#USLPlayoffs#NYRBIIpic.twitter.com/6Sa3aUpZbK
— NYRB II (@NYRBII) October 8, 2016
RBNY II will face Louisville City FC at Red Bull Arena next week, after former MLS SuperDraft selection Kadeem Dacres scored the winner in a 1-0 result over the Charleston Battery in front of a crowd of 6,581 at Slugger Field.
Highlights: Relive the best moments from the Eastern Conference Semifinal between @loucityfc and @Chas_Battery #USLPlayoffs#LOUvCHSpic.twitter.com/hWVbc2D5Yl
— USL (@USL) October 9, 2016
It got even wilder out West, where Sporting KC's reserve side Swope Park Rangers snuck past Orange County Blues FC 2-1 in extra time. Rangers finished regulation with only nine men, but nonetheless conjured up a decider via a long-range blast from Dane Kelly.
Highlights: Relive the best moments from the Western Conference Semifinal between @SwopeRangers and @OCBluesFC#USLPlayoffs#SPRvOCpic.twitter.com/LR4tQwO2Ge
— USL (@USL) October 10, 2016
They'll host Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 in the USL Western Conference Championship, thanks to the Canadian side's pulsating 3-2 defeat of OKC Energy at Thunderbird Stadium. Whitecaps 2 led the clash 2-0 in the second half, only to allow OKC to storm back and level matters at 2-2 – FC Dallas loanee Timo Pitter notching the equalizer – before Daniel Haber found an 89th-minute winner for the home side.
Red Bulls II host Louisville City on Sunday, while Whitecaps 2 visit Kansas City to take on Swope Park Rangers on Saturday. Next weekend's winners will vie for the league championship in the USL Cup Final on Sunday, Oct. 23 (8 pm ET; ESPNU).
2016 USL CUP PLAYOFFS - UPCOMING SCHEDULE
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Sunday, Oct. 16
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 2 Louisville City FC, 6:30 pm ET
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Saturday, Oct. 15
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 8:30 pm ET
2016 USL CUP FINAL
Sunday, Oct. 23
Eastern Conference champion vs. Western Conference champion, 8 pm ET (ESPNU)
